Fruit-picking sack.



1. e. JACKSON & 1. J. PETE-R.

FRUITPIG masacu. APPLICATION HLED OCT- 2. 1915 PatentedJune 20, 1916.

THE coLuMmA PLANOGRM'IH c0., wAsmNu'rpN, D. 1:.

been plucked from a tree or picked from the,

UN FTQ.

JAMES G. JACKSON AND JOHN PETER, 0F SEYMOUR, INDIANA.

FRUIT-PICKING SACK.

Application filed. October 2, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES G. JAoKsoN and JOHN J. PETER, cltizens of the United States, residing at Seymour, in the county in the provision of a sack for removable at tachment to the body of a picker for receiving the apples or other fruit that has ground, the sack being of sufficient size to allow the picker to travel from tree to tree to gather choice fruit, if he so desires, w1thout encountering the old inconvenience of dropping it into a bucket or container and thereby bruising the fruit.

Another object of this invention resides 1n the provision of a sack of the class described that is formed of flexible material permitting of the folding of the sack to retain the fruit, novel means being provided for accomplishing the removable maintenance of the sack in a folded position, the sack being extended, at times, to permit of the emptying of the fruit into a suitable container, thereby reducing the possibillty of brulslng the fruit to a minimum.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved frame for reinforcing the sack and for maintaining the mouth thereof in an open position so as to facilitate the reception of fruit into the bag, said frame including novel bracing means for the sides of the sack.

A still further object of this inventionresides in the provision ofa novel common means for removably receiving the fastening means for maintaining the sack in a folded position and for removably receiving the fastening means fortheshoulder straps.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision of a novel common means for facilitati'ngthe securing of the shoulder engaging straps on the sack and for anchoring the bracing. means of the frame to the sides of the sack.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision of a device of the character described that is simple in construction, efficient in operation and one that can be manufactured and placed on the market at a minimum cost.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2t), 1916.

Serial No. 53,860.

Other objects as well as the nature, characteristic features, and scope of this invention will be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims, forming apart of this specification.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front of the sack in a folded position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the rear of the sack in a folded position. Fig. 3'is a perspective view of the frame. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the sack in an open position, and, Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary View of a portion of the sack illustrating to advantage the construction of the novel common means for anchoring the bracing means for the sack to the sides of the sack and for facilitating the securing of the shoulder engaging straps.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the different fig ures of the drawings.

As illustrated, this invention comprises a sack 1 formed of flexible material, preferably though not necessarily of canvas, the body of the sack being elongated and hollow, the respective ends thereof being open. The portions of the sack adjacent the open ends are folded upon themselves and stitched as illustrated by the numeral 2, this arrangement serving to prevent fringing of the material.

In order to reinforce the sack and maintain the upper end thereof in an extended position, to facilitate the insertion offruit thereinto, a frame is provided, in this instance consisting of a piece of substantially stiff wire, the intermediate portion 3 of which is curved into a semicircular formation. The ends of the semicircular portion 3 are extended upwardly and bent upon themselves to provide loops 4. in which are engageable rings 5, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The portions immediately continuing from the loops 4t extend downwardly in a plane at right angles to the plane of the semicircular portion 3 and in spaced parallel relation with each other and constitute bracing rods 6 for the sides of the sack in a manner to be hereinafter described. The extreme terminal of the rods 6 are bent upon themselves to provide loops 7 in which are engaged rings 8, also for a purpose to be hereinafter described. A connecting rod 9 having the respective ends thereof looped as illustratedby the numeral 10 and engaged in the loops t serves to increase the rigidity of the frame.

Inassociating the frame with the sack 1, the rods 6 are arranged within the interior of the sack, the open upper end of the lat ter being folded over the semicircular curved portion 3 and the connecting rod 9 allel relation within the sack and for facilitating the securing of shoulder engaging straps, rectangular strips 13 formed preferably of flexible material, having openings 14 therein, are arranged on the outer surface of the sack and secured thereto through the medium of suitable fastening devices preferably rivets 15 which also pass through the body of the sack adjacent the rods 6 and form substantial pockets therefor; The

rings 8 which are associated with the loops 7 pass through openings in the body of the sack and also through the openings 14: and

are engageable by the shoulder engaging straps l6.

The shoulder engaging straps which form v a means for removably attaching the sack toi'the body of a picker have their free lower ends engagea'ble in the rings;8 and bent upon themselves and secured-to the 7 main portions thereof through the medium 7 of' suitable fastening devices 17'. These straps extend from points substantially intermediate the ends of the rear surface of the sack 1 -thereof, snap fasteners 18 being carried by the free upper ends and adapted for removable engagement with the rings 5, which rings are incidentally arranged exteriorly I: qof-the'sack. a

1 In order to removably maintain the sack in' afolded or closed position securing strips 19 aresecured to the lower open end of the sack, said securing strips carrying snap fasteners 20, the latter being also adapted for removableengagement with the rings 5.

"'As'isfreadil-y apparent, these rings 5 serve the dual purpose of removably receiving the snap fasteners 18 and 20.

and are arranged "diagonally the Invjuse'the sack is arranged adjacentthe chest of the picker (not shown) so that the semicircular portion. ofthe frame or mouth of the sack fis'position'ed laterally thereof, the shoulder engaging straps' being ar ranged"diagonally facross the back and engageable in the rings 5. Assuming that the sack is in a folded position as illustrated in Fig. 1, when the desired quantity of apples or other fruit has been placed in the bag, the snap fasteners 20 are removed from engagement with the rings 5 thus allowing the lower end of the body of the sack to fall, this portion of the sack serving as a guide for the apples or other fruit as they pass from the lower end into a suitable container (not shown) and thus reduce the possibility of bruising the fruit to a minimum.

Although this invention is illustrated in its preferred form, it is desired that great stress be laid upon the arrangement of the improved frame for strengthening the sack, as well as the common means for anchoring the bracing rods and facilitating the securing of the shoulder straps and the common means for receiving snap fasteners 18 and 20. Attention is also directed to the arrangement of the depending rods on the sides of the flexible body which permits the latter to fit the body of the wearer and consequently reduces slipping of the body or sack to a minimum as well as holding the top in place.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it can be easily seen that this invention provides a device that is simple in construction containing but a few simple parts that can be cheaply manufactured and assembled and when assembled can be placed upon the market and sold at a minimum cost.

Having thus fully described. this invention what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is 1. A fruit picking sack comprising a frame, including a semicircular portion and rods depending from the respective ends thereof, a flexible body connected to the semicircular portion of the frame, means for removably maintaining the body in a folded position, shoulder engaging straps, and common means for facilitating the securing of the straps to the sack and for anchoring the rods to the sides of the body.

2.7 A fruit picking sack comprising an elongated flexible body, open at both ends, nieans for removably maintaining the body in a folded position, means for removably attaching the body to a picker, and a reinforcing framefor the body, including a semicircular portion for supporting the upper end of the body, a connecting rod therefor, and bracing rods depending from semicircular portion and anchored within the body. p

. 3. A fruit picking sack comprising an elongated flexible hollow body open at both ends, a reinforcing frame for the body including a semicircular portion and bracing rods formed by bending the respective ends of the semicircular portion downwardly, shoulder engaging straps for removably holding the sack on the body of the user, commonmeans for facilitating the securing of the straps to the lower ends of the rods and for anchoring the rods to the sides of the body, fastening means associated with the lower open end of the body, and common means adjacent the upper ends of the rods for receiving the fastening means and the shoulder straps.

4. A fruit picking sack comprising an elongated flexible hollow body open at both ends, a reinforcing frame for the body ineluding a semicircular portion formed from a piece of wire, loops formed at the respective ends thereof, bracing rods depending from the loops, other loops formed on the terminals of the rods, and a connecting rod associated with the loops 0n the semicircular portion, a binding for connecting the upper end of the body to the semicircular portion and the connecting rod, rings associated with the loops, fasteners carried by the lower open end of the body for removable association with the rings on the loops of the semicircular frame, shoulder straps connected to the rings on the loops at the ends of the bracing rods and removably associated with the loops on the semicircular frame, and strips secured to the body about the lower rings for anchoring the lower ends of the bracing rods on the body.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES G. JACKSON. JOHN J. PETER.

tlopiee of thte patent may be obtained for five cente each, by afldremiimg the "Commissioner of Patents, Worthington, n. Q. 

